It’s not often I agree with Kobe Bryant on anything. But in this case, yes. I do believe this 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team could beat the fabled 1992 Olympic Dream Team that featured Michael Jordan (in his prime), Magic Johnson (way, way past his prime), Larry Bird (way, way, way past), Charles Barkley (who was brilliant on and off the floor) and 11 future Hall of Famers in all.

“It’d be a tough one, but I believe we’d pull it out,” Bryant said this past week, kicking up a manure storm because there was nothing going on in the world of sports, including the All-Star Game.

I don’t even think it was basketball blasphemy. What was the Lakers’ star supposed to say when asked? This team, in its present state far more athletic and younger than the Dream Team, could win. It also could lose. But let’s don’t call the possibility laughable, as Jordan did. I can’t believe these guys wouldn’t make a game of it, although our “Gallery” would vehemently disagree, which is “Gallery’s” unalienable right as “Gallery.”

I covered every Dream Team game in Barcelona. It was a joke. Bird, one of the 10 best players who ever lived, spent most of his time supine on the sideline floor to help his aching back. Magic, who by then had tested positive for HIV, was not the fresh, energetic Earvin. Opponents, if you want to call them that, were a bunch of gushing stiffs just happy to play with legends and then get autographs and pose for photos after the slaughter.

Barkley, also in his prime, was the real star, quite possibly the greatest international-rules basketball player (remember the international game is different) in history. He also was the team spokesman, in that he actually got out at night while most of his fellow luminaries were content to remain in their hotel and play poker (heaven knows the stakes). Barkley was so good in Barcelona it’s almost hard to explain.

And if anyone were to make a difference against the 2012 team, it might be Charles. He was that good. The Dream Team, despite its aging stars, was driven by prior U.S. amateur Olympic misadventures. People who know the game say some of the greatest basketball ever played was when they practiced among themselves in closed sessions.

If the Dream Team did one thing it was to light the fuse that led to the world-wide basketball explosion. There won’t be many autograph/photo-op seekers among players in London. If this club isn’t similarly driven, it can get beat. There is competition now, although there shouldn’t be enough of it to matter to the likes of Kobe, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, et al.

This team could beat the Dreamers. I wouldn’t guarantee anything, but it would be a helluva game. Tell you what, “Gallery,” if they played 10 times neither one would go 10-0. …

Hear the great Bill Walton is returning to NBA broadcasting. Couldn’t be happier. Now I have to figure out how to turn off the picture and keep the sound on …

The most extraordinary thing in the Padres’ extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime win over the Dodgers Saturday night — Everth Cabrera stealing home on fast-asleep L.A. closer Kenley Jansen, his wild throw home and Will Venable coming around to score from second — was lost. Umpire Greg Gibson originally called Cabrera out (in somewhat dramatic fashion) until he realized the ball was about 30 feet away. Umps. Go figure …

Except in game-changing situations, I’m not really in favor of instant replay in baseball — never on balls and strikes. But guys like Gibson come close to knocking me of out of my stance ...

Chase Headley is going to be traded. Let’s just hope the Padres, who have some minor-league depth at third base, don’t give him away (ala Fred McGriff). I hate inter-division trades. If the Dodgers want Headley, who is not Mike Schmidt, they should have to surrender Magic Johnson …

San Diego never should give anything to L.A. It’s bad enough that we allow their people to come down here on vacation …

I’ve been clocking Adrian Gonzalez in Boston. He was better in Petco, which he didn’t like at all …

The big question upcoming in Chargers training camp: With Antonio Gates healthy again (I can’t overemphasize how huge that is), how many tight ends will Norv Turner keep? …

Philip Rivers has been getting some off-season heat. A whole lot of experts mustn’t have seen how well he played down the stretch, when he actually had an offensive line in front of him. We do far too much off-season thinking …

If Marcus McNeill can pass a physical, what possible reason could there be for him not to be re-signed? Good player …

The NCAA slaps CalTech? Really? Let’s see what kind of spine it has dealing with the Penn State scandal. What happened there was deplorable, billions of times more offensive than anything that happened at USC or Ohio State. CalTech? The NCAA shouldn’t even be allowed in its halls ...

It appears Joe Paterno’s statue will remain at Penn State. Does anyone know how to train pigeons? …

I see where San Diego State’s football team promises to be bigger and stronger. Yeah, but can any of these tough guys kick a field goal? …

Dwight Howard is the new Terrell Owens. Who cares about Dwight Howard and what has he ever done? Dwight has to get himself an hour on ESPN with Jim Gray …

It would be great if the Tour de France were to just ride off into the urine-colored sunset.